Healthy living is the key to a healthy life.
We all know the importance of leading healthy lives; however, bad habits and busy schedules sometimes get in the way. If you’re looking to get your health back on track, you can start taking some simple steps today. Looking to add a medical professional to your team that can support a healthier you? An osteopath is a holistic doctor who focuses on actions you can take (such as those below) to improve your health and well-being and prevent disease.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
You’ve probably heard the quote, “Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food.” Hippocrates certainly was onto something here. After all, what we eat can certainly improve our health or cause problems. The western diet is chock full of junk food, where even seemingly healthy grocery store items are littered with sugar, additives, seed oils, and salt.
The key to healthy eating is to avoid prepackaged, processed, and prepared foods and opt for whole, unprocessed foods such as lean protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, beans and legumes, and low-fat dairy (in moderation).
Ditch the Stress
We all know that chronic and severe stress causes serious issues with our bodies, from thyroid dysfunction and mood disorders to digestive problems, heart attacks and adrenal issues. Unfortunately, chronic stress is prevalent these days, and it’s always a good idea to talk with your doctor about ways to manage your stress. The good news is that osteopathic manipulative therapy can help balance sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activation, reducing stress and anxiety.
Make Sleep a Priority
Unfortunately, hustle culture is still alive and well, and if you’ve ever caught yourself saying, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” you may be getting less sleep than you need to optimize your health, performance, and well-being. Sleep is critical, and not enough Americans are getting it. Getting 7-8 hours of quality sleep can heal the body and detoxify and cleanse the brain while improving memory, learning, mood, and concentration.
Of course, getting good quality sleep isn’t always that simple. If your sleep hygiene leaves something to be desired, an osteopath can talk to you about certain habits and supplements that may naturally improve your circadian rhythms.
These aren’t the only steps you can take, but these are certainly some of the most important. You can also work with your osteopath to quit smoking, limit alcohol, and find an exercise routine while getting therapeutic and whole-body care.